Fat Free Vegan Lentil Stew

This past Friday, a few of my friends and I had our second annual meal exchange. We each make enough meals for participating families, and so we each receive meals to stock our freezer for the busy holiday season! Last year I made and received 6 frozen meals. This year, three people bailed because of sickness, out of town, and full term pregnancy- but I still made and received 3 meals. That's three nights of not cooking! Woohooo!

My friend who plans and hosts it does a great job. Her house is always clean and inviting, and the dining room table was packed full of treats for the kids and moms.

We put the cooked meals in freezer friendly storage somethings, put instructions on how to reheat and serve, and include a copy of the recipe. Two of my friends and their families follow a fat free vegan diet. I made a Fat Free Vegan Lentil Stew. Mr. Incredible even loved it. And he is alll about the beef:

Easy Lentil Stew

3 cups broth

28. oz can peeled Italian tomatoes, undrained

1/2 cup red wine

1/4 cup dried parsley

3/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1 lb. dried lentils, rinsed and drained with stones removed

1 large onion, chopped

4 carrots, peeled and chopped

4 celery stalks, sliced

4 oz. chopped mushrooms

3 tsp. garlic

Throw everything in your crockpot. Break up the tomatoes if you feel like it. Cover. Cook on high for 2 hours, then low for 4. (Or high for 4. Or low for 10. What every your day can handle.)

Serve on top of rice if you want a starch with your meal. !enjoy!